Butterfly Woods Natural Area

Description

In the past, Butterfly Woods was a small-fruit agricultural area, and it is gradually being restored to a natural riparian (riverside) forest and upland. The most popular way to visit is by bicycling or walking on the paved Poudre River Trail. Butterfly Woods is east of the unique pedestrian bridge over the Poudre River near Overland Trail Road. Visitors may see squirrels, foxes, raccoons, mule deer, mourning doves and woodpeckers. This natural area is home to the two-spotted skipper and the smokey-eyed brown butterfly – both rare species whose habitat is protected by the on-trail only policy.

Trails

0.4 miles of the paved Poudre River Trail (wheelchair accessible)

Hours

5:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Directions

Butterfly Woods is along the Poudre River Trail about ¼ mile east of Lions Open Space (managed by Larimer County Natural Resources). The nearest parking lot is at Lions Open Space on North Overland Trail Rd. Butterfly Woods' approximate address is 2218 North Overland Trail Road, Fort Collins.